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Guest
Author: Ernest Barteldes |
By Nelson Leon, with Ernest Barteldes
The dilemma is between training animals “a set of tricks” and teaching people “a set of skills”
Is training just for Animals!
We have been training animals to perform a set of activities (tricks) for many years with excellent results using the rewarding approach (do something, get something). In other words, we train animals to perform progressive tasks until a satisfactory goal is achieved. This process usually starts with simple activities reinforced with constant repetition and gradually moves to a combination of previously learned tasks or a set of more challenging activities. The individuals performing these training activities are called “Trainers or Coaches” and the subjects of the training, “Trainees” or simply animals in training.
What is teaching anyway?
Now, let’s talk about teaching people something that they want or need lo learn –“a set of new skills”. Teaching is as old as the history of the world and has been practiced by almost every living creature (humans and animals). In the case of human beings, the activity of teaching involves presenting knowledge of a specific subject matter to “students” or “learners”. The process involves starting with presenting simple definitions from the teacher’s perspective to students who learn from their own perceptions using their individual learning styles (students have the freedom to use the information in any way they like).
Every human being has something to teach to others. Therefore, everyone has the potential of teaching something to another person or to a group of people, at any given time and place.
Some people have made a career out of teaching and have the “training” and the proper credentials to do so. They are known as teachers, educationalists, instructors, educators, professors, academicians, tutors, trainers, coaches, experts, spiritual leaders, gurus, philosophers, lecturers, motivational speakers, entertainers, etc. They teach in order to earn a living. Therefore, their profession, occupation or career is teaching.
Can we train people?
Having defined briefly the meaning of training and teaching, I now attempt to suggest that people can be trained to develop new resources, skills, abilities or competencies to enhance their performance, increase their productivity and perhaps modify their behaviors as long as they see the purpose of doing so, as motivation plays a very important part in their participation and also in the outcome.
What about that well-known expression which says that one cannot teach an old dog new tricks?
This writer believes that it depends of the dog, of the trainer and the kind of approach used.
Chart comparison between training and teaching:
Benefits |
Training |
Teaching |
Objective |
Organize, simplify and facilitate knowledge though case studies and simulations. | Provide information and help students understand it through discussions and testing. |
Applications |
Participants develop the resources and skills by following a highly workable process that help them accomplish results with effectiveness. | Students become aware of specific or general information that will help them develop a significant understanding of how things work (The reasons behind functionability) |
Practitioners |
Trainers, coaches, mentors, facilitators and subject matter experts. | Teachers, instructors, educators, performers, leaders, intellectuals, etc. |
Categories |
Courses, programs and interventions | Courses, seminars, workshops, lectures, etc |
Approach |
Tacit: practical concepts and applications | Explicit: theory, definitions, procedures & tips) |
Length |
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ROI |
The return on investment can be measured in enhanced performance, increased satisfaction and a clear sense of accomplishment. | Getting certificates, diplomas, licenses or a sense of awareness about a specific subject matter, justify the return on investment. |
One thing worthy of being pointed it out is that not every teacher is necessarily an effective trainer.
The reason for such a blatant and controversial statement is that teachers usually talk about a given subject somewhat like preachers do, while trainers perform the task and duplicate themselves by helping others to do what they do or what needs to be done by following a set of steps.
Based upon the belief expressed above, we could clearly say that there are “doers”(the trainers) - and there are teachers.
Moreover, what learning organizations really want and need are trainers - rather than teachers - to enhance their workforce’s competitive advantage in today’s accelerated marketplace. Such trainers should have the knowledge, experience and confidence in assessing, customizing, implementing and evaluating training and developing initiatives and resources.
Trainers with the appropriate know-how will be capable of simplifying and facilitating learning of a specific subject matter.
Learners, in turn, will not only assimilate the newly acquired information but also will also be able to
accurately and effectively transform such information into practical knowledge.with Ernest Barteldes, Staten Island
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